Vakil v. Idnani

748 S.W.2d 196, 1987 Tenn. App. LEXIS 3047
CourtCourt of Appeals of Tennessee
DecidedNovember 5, 1987
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 748 S.W.2d 196 (Vakil v. Idnani) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Vakil v. Idnani, 748 S.W.2d 196, 1987 Tenn. App. LEXIS 3047 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

CRAWFORD, Judge.

Plaintiffs, Suresh P. Vakil, and wife Su-dha S. Vakil, buyers under a real estate sales contract sued sellers, Rajengra G. Idnani and wife, Hoor R. Idnani, for a rescission of the contract, and the deed and security instruments executed in closing the transaction. At the conclusion of the nonjury trial, the trial court entered an order denying rescission, but ordering a reformation of the warranty deed from the seller to the buyer. The buyers have appealed and present three issues for review which we quote from their brief:

1. In an action for rescission, were plaintiffs/appellants entitled to rescission as a result of mutual mistake without being required to prove fraud, either actual or constructive?
2. Where the plaintiffs/appellants have elected the remedy of rescission, may the trial court deny such election of remedies and grant the relief sought by defendants/appellees?
3. Alternatively, if a showing of fraud is required in a rescission action, did the trial court err in failing to hold that fraud was established under the facts of this case?

Plaintiff, Suresh P. Vakil, and defendant, Rajengra G. Idnani, were the only witnesses to testify and the trial court correctly noted that “there’s very little difference in the testimony in this case.” We will briefly set out the pertinent facts as established by the proof.

The buyers and sellers reached an agreement for buyers to purchase sellers’ motel in Cleveland, Tennessee, and together they prepared and executed a document setting out their agreement, which we quote:

REAL ESTATE SALES CONTRACT FOR FRIENDLY INN MOTEL
Buyers: Suresh P. Vakil & Sudha S. Vakil
Sellers: Rajendra G. Idnani and Hoor P. Idnani
Buyers and sellers hereby enter into an agreement for sale of the Friendly Inn [198]*198Motel under the conditions setforth inhere.
1) Sellers agree to sell and buyers agree to buy the Friendly Inn Motel located at 1211 South Lee hwy, Cleveland, Tn 37311.
2) Purchase price will be $450,000.00. Downpayment at closing will be $40,-000.00 less the earnest money of $5,000.00. $10,000.00 will be payable to sellers 30 days from closing with the interest rate of 15% per annum and $25,-000.00 at 6 months from closing with interest rate of 15% per annum. Additional $25,000.00 will be payable to sellers at 18 months from closing with the interest rate of 10% per annum. Remainder of $350,000.00 will be financed by the sellers and will be amortized over 15 years at 10% fixed rate of interest per annum. The $350,000.00 morgage (sic) will be assumable wraparound morgage (sic) and seller will wrap the existing morgages (sic) on the property. There will be no prepayment penalty on any of the morgages (sic) and any delinquent payments will bear a 5% late charge after 15 days.
3) Buyers are submitting the earnest money of $5,000.00.
4) Included also in the price is approximately 3 acres of land, buildings, appliances, TV’s, fixtures and other business related equipment. The owner’s personal belongings at the manager’s quarters are not included in the price.
5) Buyers promise to assume the existing lease for 24 19" color TVs and the payments for Mitel SX-2A phone system (appx $250.00 per month and final payment of appx $5,000.00 in December 1988.
6) Buyer will assume the payment of yellow pages advertising in the amount of $79 Per month until July 1986 and in the amount of $7.50 Per month thereafter.
7) Sellers have made the Buyers aware of potential street through the property and will not be responsible of the outcome.
8) Taxes will be prorated to the date of closing.
9) Monthly dues will be prorated to the date of closing.
10) Closing costs will be customary and buyers will purchase at their own ex-pence (sic) any title opinion or title policy.
11) Sellers will provide the buyers with a general warantee (sic) deed.
12) Closing will be at a time mutually convenient to both parties but no later than April 30, 1986.
13) Seller will show the buyers the past sales tax receipts to prove the gross business and also expences (sic) in their books.
14) Sellers will also advertise ‘Friendly Inn’ name on the 2 billboards on 1-75 for half the cost on which they presently advertise Cleveland Motel.
15) Buyers are free to make any kind of remodeling, renovation or other changes to enhance the business and they promise to keep the buildings and other business related property in good repair.
16) Sellers promise to train and assist the buyers for a period of 2 weeks following the closing at no cost.
17) Buyers and sellers will prepare the list of inventory together.
18) In the event of an unmarketable title the buyer will receive the full earnest money refund. In the event of default by the buyers the earnest money will be the liquidated damages compensation for the sellers.
19) Buyers will not be responsible for any debts and obligations of the sellers before closing.
20) This agreement is the complete understanding of the buyers and sellers and any changes to the agreement should be in writing and initialed by both parties.
21) This agreement will survive the closing.
Vakil S.P. /a/_ 4/7/86
Buyer Date
Rajendra G. Idnani /s/ 4/7/86
Seller Date

[199]*199The parties agree that the sales contract correctly sets out their agreement. The problem arises with the documents executed to close the transaction. The record indicates that an attorney representing the seller prepared the closing documents and that the buyer was represented by an attorney at the closing. Although neither plaintiff nor defendant really understood the legal ramifications of the language in the instruments, they signed the documents in reliance on the attorneys’ assurance that the documents complied with the requirements of the contract.

After the April 18, 1986 closing, the buyers took possession of the property and operated the motel. Several months later, the buyers became aware of some discrepancies in the deed and security instruments executed at the closing which, in effect, obligate the buyers for a total purchase price of over $600,000 instead of the $450,-000 sale price agreed upon in the contract. After obtaining counsel, the buyers sought to rescind the contract and return the property to the sellers, but sellers rejected the proposal. The buyers then filed the complaint in this case seeking a rescission of the transaction on the grounds of mutual mistake and/or fraud. Payments on the purchase money notes during the pendency of the suit have been paid to the Clerk and Master.

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Bluebook (online)
748 S.W.2d 196, 1987 Tenn. App. LEXIS 3047, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/vakil-v-idnani-tennctapp-1987.